What Are Optical Circuit Switches? A Guide to Light-Based Data Routing
As data centers scale to meet the demands of AI workloads, cloud computing, and ever-growing data traffic, traditional electronic switching is reaching its limits in speed, power consumption, and cost. Optical Circuit Switches (OCS) have emerged as a compelling alternative, enabling data routing using light rather than electrical signals. This shift is reshaping how hyperscale networks are designed and operated. What Is an Optical Circuit Switch? An OCS is a device that establishes direct optical paths between network ports without converting light signals into electrical signals and back again. Unlike traditional electronic packet switches, which must decode, process, and re-encode data at every hop, OCS physically redirects light using components like mirrors, lenses, or micro-electromechanical systems (MEMS). This optical-to-optical switching eliminates the need for optical-electrical-optical (OEO) conversion, reducing latency, power draw, and heat generation. How OCS Differs...